Chapter Twenty-Five

Ashton

Today was graduation day. After Quinn finished his PT he would call me to pick him up. He was expecting me to take him out to lunch to celebrate his last full day of therapy. But instead, I was going to take him somewhere else.

My heart thudded loudly with anticipation as I waited outside in the parking lot of Emerald Coast Physical Therapy Associates. Part of me was excited about this surprise. The other worried part of me wanted to throw up. What if he didn’t like what I’d done and was angry that I hadn’t included him in the design choices? The last time I felt this way was a few months ago when I was standing in the bathroom at Quinn’s office waiting to negotiate our deal. Not knowing he was waiting for me on the other side of the table.

The door to the office opened and Mark walked out with Quinn. Mark had his arm around Quinn’s shoulder and they paused right outside the door. Mark gave Quinn a bear hug. I don’t know why, but seeing that happen brought tears to my eyes. If someone would’ve told me that few months ago I would reconnect with Quinn, fall back in love with him, and be living with him, I would’ve thought that person was crazy.

“Hey babe,” Quinn greeted me as he slid inside the passenger seat in my car.

I reached over and kissed him. “How was PT?”

“Grueling,” Quinn said. “Mark put me through the ringer today.”

“On your last day of therapy?” I asked. “How dare he do that to my man?”

“Actually, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I waved goodbye to Mark, who watched us from the doorstep. I caught his wink at me before he shut the door. Of course, he was in on the surprise too.

“I need to stop at the gas station before we grab a bite to eat,” I said, trying to keep the waver out of my voice. I glanced sideways at him but nothing seemed amiss. He wasn’t on to me. Yet.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all morning,” Quinn replied. “The thought of stone crab claws with hot mustard sauce is the only thing that kept me going when Mark made me want to put my head between my legs and breathe into a brown paper sack.”

I laughed. “Doesn’t take much to make you happy these days.”

“I’ve got you babe. What else do I need?”

I pulled into the gas station and took my time. While Quinn pumped, I went inside under the guise to buy gum and mints. I used the restroom. I wanted to give everyone time to get to the surprise party.

“What took you so long, woman?” Quinn teased me. “I thought I was going to have to send out a search party.”

“Bathroom,” I answered. “Girl troubles.”

That was all I needed to say to shut down the conversation. I don’t care who you are. All men were uncomfortable talking about female issues, including my boyfriend.

I turned onto the beach highway and headed to our destination. Luckily, I picked a restaurant just down the street from where we were going.

A couple minutes later I was turning into the parking lot of our new business. Immediately, Quinn asked me, “What are we doing here?”

“I think I forgot something important inside,” I said parking the car.

“What’s wrong?” Quinn said, his face a mask of concern.

“Nothing,” I opened the car door and stepped out. “Just had some ideas I wanted to show you. Blueprints.”

“But…the crab legs. I’m starving.” He reluctantly got out of the car and followed me to the front door.

“Hold your horses, hungry man. This won’t take long,” I answered.

He followed me, as I knew he would. Like a lamb to slaughter.

I used my key to open the front door and we walked inside. The interior was dark as Quinn fiddled around for the lights.

“It smells like fresh paint,” Quinn said as the lights came on.

I watched his face as he looked around to see the entire reception area had been painted, furnished and completely renovated. He turned around in circles, mouth gaping open. “What in the world is going on?”

“I renovated the office,” I stated the obvious. “Do you like it?”

“Um, I don’t know what to say.”

I wasn’t sure how to take that. Was he unhappy that I did this behind his back? Or was he just in shock?

“You can say that you like it.” I continued to watch as he wandered around the reception area taking it all in. My knees quaked and all I wanted to do was collapse in an emotional puddle on the floor.

“I do like it. It’s just – “Quinn sank down into one of the guest chairs. “I wasn’t expecting this. You did this all on your own?”

I nodded. “Would you like to see the rest of the office?”
Quinn looked at me with big eyes. “You mean there’s more?”

I laughed, fortified with a wave of confidence that he didn’t seem mad. “You didn’t think I would half-ass it, did you?”

He got to his feet and we walked down the hallway. The conference room was the first door to the right. I stood behind him as he opened it.

“Surprise!” Voices yelled out as Quinn walked in.

“What the …” My heart galloped at his shocked expression. Never saw that one coming. That’s the best technique. Stun them with the first surprise and then knock them down with the second.

All of our friends and close family stood in the conference room. His mom and dad had traveled down from Georgia, my parents were there, our siblings, Mr. Albertson and some of the crew from his old office. Mark, his physical therapist called out from the corner of the room, “I bet you weren’t expecting this after what I put you through today!”

Quinn shook his head and went to hug his parents. “I can’t believe this.”

I stepped around the well-wishers and found my friend, Diana. “You pulled it off,” she told me.

“We pulled it off,” I said. I gave her a hug. “Thanks for all your help. The office looks great.”

We had a nice spread on the conference room table and credenza. I even made sure the caterer brought in cold stone crab claws with hot mustard sauce for Quinn. We also had chicken and steak kebabs, fried mushrooms, shrimp quesadillas, and zucchini sticks. All of Quinn’s favorite foods. Imported beers, wine, and an array of soft drinks. It was a nice evening to share with all our loved ones.

But the best thing about it was seeing a smile on Quinn’s face. I’d worried at first that he wouldn’t like the office or he’d be disappointed that I did it without his knowledge. Technically, we both put in fifty-fifty for the business. Equal partners. I should’ve asked him before I spent a lot of money on expensive design. But my gift came straight from my loving heart. Seeing the smile on his face now was worth all the worrying and debating.

At the end of the evening, Quinn shuffled with exhaustion. We said our goodbyes and strode to the parking lot. As we got into the car, Quinn leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“What is that for?” I asked.

“Thank you,” Quinn said quietly. “That was the best surprise I’ve ever received. Ever.”

I leaned back in the driver’s seat. “You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad?” he asked, mouthing hanging open in shock at the question.

“I took the liberty of renovating our new business without discussing it with you first,” I apologized as I started the ignition. “We’re partners.”

“What you did was very brave. And sweet. I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know. Besides I dig your taste. You picked me didn’t you? Twice.”

I felt a rush of heat flood my body. “I wanted to do something to show how committed I was to you and the business.”

Quinn rubbed a thumb over my cheek. “I love you for that.”

“How about we get home and you can show me just how much?”

We hadn’t made love since the accident. Quinn always seemed to find some excuse why he couldn’t do it. Since I didn’t want to push him, I’d just allowed him to go at his own pace. He’d be ready when he was ready.

“Why wait?” Quinn picked up my hand and kissed it.

I giggled. “Because my parents are still in the office and if they came out and saw us making out in the car …”

“Good point,” he said, blue eyes twinkling with desire. “How fast can you get us home?”

I cranked up the car and put it in reverse. “Five minutes.”

* * *

We made it home in record time. Quinn kicked the door open with his good leg and pulled me over the threshold, never breaking contact. We managed to land on the couch, limbs twisted with desire. I ripped at my clothes in a frantic attempt to get them off my fevered skin, then went to work on his.

I lifted his shirt, pausing to scrape my nails across the indentions of his abs. I pulled it over his head, and admired his sculpted physique. The recent work Quinn had put in at PT was evident. He’d lost muscle mass laying in that ICU for so many days, but he was starting to look like his old self in body and in expression. Better than ever.

Quinn turned, opened his mouth and latched onto my right nipple. Licking. Sucking. Easy, at first, then harder, tugging and nipping. He breathed out a huff of cold air on the turgid tip. Whimpering, I tried pulling away but he threaded his fingers through my long curls and wouldn’t let me move. My breath caught as he raked his teeth over the swollen pink tip.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Quinn and my hazel ones locked with his. He had the passion back in those azure eyes. Burning with desire. For me. His quick tongue lashed at my nipple, his left hand kneading my other breast. As my body tightened and trembled in response, I could feel the heat rising within and wetness pool between my legs.

Pushing him back, I managed to tug his pants and underwear down far enough to free him. I held his rigid cock in both hands. My fingertips traced the thick veins along the sexy length, paying extra attention to the sensitive spot underneath the tip. Quinn hissed in a breath and a drop of pre-cum escaped. I used it to tease him as I continued to run both hands up and down the velvety smooth skin.

His mouth covered mine as I guided him to my quivering opening. Our tongues tangled in a dance as I continued to rub his cock over the swollen lips of my sex, heightening my pleasure until I felt like I couldn’t last another second without him impaling me. He suddenly pulled back and growled, “Let’s go slow. I don’t want this to end.”

I shivered not knowing if I could take it slow. I had been waiting for this for months. “I’m not making any promises.”

Quinn reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “I wouldn’t expect any less. Ashton, look at me. I need to know something.”

“Anything,” I said, never letting go of him and trying in vain to drive him deep. He still leaned back, denying me and speared me with a demanding gaze.

“Are you repulsed by any part of me?”

I locked eyes with his again and smiled. How could he ask me that? There wasn’t an inch of him that I didn’t love. Not the ones made of flesh or the ones made of titanium.

“Quinn Andrews. You are the hottest, sexiest man in the entire Universe. You’re my first and will be my only. No one could ever entice me to be or make me as turned on as you do. If you do not fuck me right now, I’m going to go mad with wanting.”

He growled at the feel of me, grabbing my hips as he pulled me down, the tip of his cock spreading my sex open. Then Quinn gave me what I’d been begging for and entered me with one smooth, needy thrust.

I ground my clit against him, sighing with pleasure. It had been so long. Too long. And now, it felt like coming home. I moaned and ground against his pubic bone as he filled me completely. This felt right. It felt amazing.

Quinn continued to lift me with his strong arms and when he lowered me again, making me take every inch, he groaned with delight. “I love how tight your pussy is as it squeezes my cock. Because you were made just for me. And only me. I’m sorry it took so long for me to feel comfortable doing this. I forgot for a moment how good you feel, Ashton.”

Running my tongue over my dry lips, I answered, “It’s good that we waited. It feels so good. I’d never want to rush you into intimacy that you weren’t ready for.”

Over and over, I continued to push up, then slid back down. A steady rhythm developed as my buttocks sat on his thighs, taking him deeper inside of me each time. I whimpered as I could feel his cock throbbing inside of me. I realized he wasn’t done with me yet. This was just the beginning.

I kissed Quinn, savoring his taste as my tongue did a slow slide against his. He kissed me back with urgency as we worked together in a nice rhythm.

I placed my hands on his shoulders and fucked him with everything that I had. Screw it. I wasn’t going to take it slow.

I waited for this.

I wanted him now.

I gave it everything that I had.

Quinn was delicious. With his cock moving inside of me, I could feel the twitching signaling that he was close.

I slid my hands over his slick chest. I loved the way his body responded to mine as his cock was pushed deep inside of me. I couldn’t get enough of Quinn.

“I’m getting close,” he whispered in my ear. “So close. You’re driving me absolutely crazy.”

I was deliriously happy. I loved the way that Quinn made me feel safe. He always put my needs ahead of his. Throwing my head back, I moaned as Quinn plunged into me harder and harder. “I’m losing control.”

Reaching down between us, Quinn rubbed my clit with the pad of his thumb, sending me over the edge. I cried out his name as his cock thrusted inside of me one more time.

His cock jerked, sending quivers down my spine as he spurted hotly inside of me. His lips met mine as we kissed a final time. Trying to slow my breathing, I collapsed on top of him.

Quinn tilted his head and kissed me on the forehead. “I love you, Ashton.”